Mary J. Blige, Trina, Nicki Minaj AND Missy Tweet Surprise And Shock To UNEXPECTED DEATH Of Chris Lighty

Repost This Article

Chris Lighty

Chris Lighty is one of the most recognizable names in Hip Hop…and he died yesterday…apparently from a SELF-INFLICTED GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE HEAD!Women in Hip Hop Tweeted their immediate responses to the tragedy.

Here are a few of their Tweets:  (A BREAK DOWN OF LIGHTY’S DEATH AND HIS RISE IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS DETAILED BELOW)

U never know what can send a person over the edge or make them want 2 keep living. take it easy on people. We are so fragile.

— Mary J. Blige (@maryjblige) August 30, 2012

R.I.P. Chris Lighty. Gone way to soon. This is unbelievable. My prayers go out to the Lighty Family.

— Mary J. Blige (@maryjblige) August 31, 2012

#RIP Chris Lighty

— TRINA(@TRINArockstarr) August 30, 2012

Another tragic & inconceivable loss for the culture. #RIPChrisLighty

— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) August 30, 2012

ChrisLighty U taught me 2 B Fearless! U help build So many Artist Careers! This is such a sad time 4 all the lives utouched.

— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) August 31, 2012

My Prayers go out to The Lighty Familythis is a very difficult time...

— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) August 31, 2012

Our prayers go out to Lighty and his family…

MORE ABOUT CHRIS LIGHTY…ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MEN IN MUSIC

FROM FUSE TV

Chris Lighty and rapper Drake

Lighty had been a central figure in hip hop for more than 20 years, joining Simmons and Lyor Cohen at RUSH Management, the first major hip hop management company, and later co-founding Violator Management, whose roster included 50 Cent, Swizz Beatz and Missy Elliott. Last year, Lighty merged Violator with management company Primary Wave to form Primary Violator and became the company’s chief operating officer.

Violator became successful enough to spawn two compilations of the company’s roster, 1999′s Violator: The Album and 2001′s Violator: The Album, V2.0, which released’s Q-Tip’s “Vivrant Thing” and Busta Rhymes and Kelis’ “What It Is.”

Simmons penned a brief eulogy on Global Grind, writing, “I am deeply saddened by the loss of a hip-hop hero. Chris Lighty has been a dear friend of mine since he was a kid. Was a brilliant partner in business and I was so proud of all that he had accomplished. He is an amazing example of how a passionate kid from the street can go to the most even-keeled, smart, thoughtful manager in the business and a generous philanthropist.  He was loved by everyone who knew him, including me. He will be missed greatly by all of us.”

AllHipHop.com reports that Lighty had “an automatic, cryptic auto-reply email message that indicated Lighty may be hospitalized for an undisclosed ailment as of last night.” According to New York Daily News, Lighty had gotten into a fight with his ex-wife shortly before committing suicide. The pair divorced last year.

Chris Lighty and Wife

Starting out as a record carrier for influential New York DJ Red Alert, Lighty entered the business as a teenager working as manager for hip hop group the Jungle Brothers. Lighty would become instrumental as the bridge between hardcore hip hop and Madison Avenue, masterminding multi-million dollar endorsement and branding deals, including Busta Rhymes‘ partnership with Mountain Dew, LL Cool J’s deal with Gap and 50 Cent’s deal with Glaceau, which netted the rapper an estimated $100 million when Coca-Cola purchased the company in 2007.